As part of the City’s Property Management Department’s Smart Real Estate Service and related COVID-19 economic and social recovery strategy, several property recommendations will be put to full Council next week following in-principle approval by the City’s Mayoral Committee (Mayco) on Tuesday, 20 October.
20 October 2020. If approved by Council, these transactions will unlock underutilised public assets for much needed residential, business and community use.
Driving local business development in Khayelitsha
In Umrhabulo Triangle, Khayelitsha, recognising the need to promote commerce and facilitate employment, we are proposing to transfer a site to the neighbouring concerned.
The currently vacant land will be developed to its highest and best use and allows for expanded development and business growth.
It is tremendously exciting to leverage this site for much-needed economic activity and unlocking the development and business potential of the upcoming economic activity node in the Khayelitsha subdistrict.
The proposed development further supports the Transit Oriented Development Comprehensive Land Use model of the City and will positively complement the planned Integrated Rapid Transit system in the Khayelitsha subdistrict.
Stimulating job creation in Delft
The City is aiming to stimulate employment opportunities close to the workforce in Delft by leveraging the sale of City-owned industrial properties in the area.
This project will leverage City assets to stimulate economic activity and job creation in the Delft area. The transfer of the various properties will help to activate the local industrial node while realising the City’s core socio-economic objectives.
Creating housing opportunity in Grassy Park
The Mayco has supported the rezoning of a misused business site for residential purposes in Grassy Park and surrounds.
This illustrates the City’s determination to identify and drive smart, community driven real estate transactions. This small approximately 1 000m2 in size site is best used for residential purposes. While the site is not of a sufficient size to provide economies of scale to develop viable public housing, it can be leveraged to address housing demand through subdivision into small lots to the benefit of single dwelling house owners.
Supporting social upliftment in Langa
It gives me great joy to recommend the long overdue transfer of the Langa Baptist Church which was established in 1949, to the governing Not-for-Profit Organisation (NPO) which has been leasing the property since 1952. The sale will promote socio-economic upliftment and enable security of tenure for this NPO to continue its community work.